HAS THE BBC STITCHED UP BORIS?

Director-general quits early... so PM can’t choose who takes over

BBC boss Tony Hall quit two years early yesterday – with commentators suggesting he was forced out to thwart the Government.

The director-general’s surprise departure was also painted as a strategic move so he could prevent Boris Johnson having a say on who replaced him.

Insiders claimed that Lord Hall’s departure now, rather than in 2022 as expected, would allow BBC chairman Sir David Clementi to choose his successor without interference.

If Lord Hall had stayed on, the Government could have appointed a new chairman who’d be more likely to choose as his replacement a director-general less sympathetic to the BBC’s traditional values.

However, Robert Peston, the BBC’s former economics editor, speculated last night that instead of this strategic departure, Lord Hall could have been pushed.

He said: ‘ I’m not sure his departure is a pure exercise of free will.’

Peston claimed he was told by ‘a very-wellplaced source’ that Lord Hall hoped to stay on for two years, but chairman David Clementi was ‘on manoeuvres’ to replace him.

Writing in The Spectator magazine, he added: ‘Whoever replaces Hall, it is certainly an appointment that will be of more than usual significance to the BBC’s future, with the Prime Minister signalling wholesale longterm change in the way it is funded.’

‘In fact, the decision on who replaces Lord Hall is probably as important as who becomes the next Labour leader.

‘Given the size of Boris Johnson’s majority, the task of holding the Government to account will probably fall more on the media than on the Opposition.’

The announcement of Lord Hall’s departure yesterday morning came as:

÷ The broadcaster faced pressure to appoint a woman as the next director-general in the wake of the gender pay row that has engulfed the broadcaster.

÷ His successor was warned they would have to fight to keep the licence fee after the Prime Minister queried its future.

÷ Questions remain over a range of outstanding issues, including: the threat of huge payouts to female staff, failure to compete with the likes of Netflix and fears that many over-75s could be stripped of their free licences.

Insiders said Lord Hall had become increasingly ‘demoralised’ about the gender pay crisis.

But sources close to him insisted it did not cause his departure.

Hours after the announcement, it emerged that he had been appointed chairman of the board at the National Gallery.

Officially, Lord Hall, 68, claimed he decided to go because he felt it was important that the same director- general should see through both the mid-term review of the BBC’s Charter in 2022 and its renewal process in 2027.

But there was a growing belief among senior insiders last night that it was a deliberate ploy to block Boris Johnson from influencing the choice of the next boss.

The director general is appointed by the BBC board, led by the chairman, who is appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of ministers. Sir David’s ‘term of appointment’ as chairman runs until February 2021.

The Government can then choose his replacement.

A BBC insider said: ‘ By going now, the next director-general is chosen by the old regime – not by someone handpicked by Government. Partly, I am sure, they will together have thought “How do we stop the BBC being carved up by this Government?”.

‘One way is to put in a new director-general before the Government

gets the chance to influence the choice by picking a new chairman – the person who gets to pick the director-general.’

The BBC is going through an tough period in its relationship with the Government amid rows about bias in its coverage and question marks over whether the Tories might axe the licence fee.

As relations have soured, ministers have boycotted flagship shows, and Mr Johnson’s refused to be challenged by Andrew Neil in the run-up to the election.

Senior insiders admitted Lord Hall had ‘had enough’ and was ‘ tired’ following the litany of recent difficulties.

The pay inequality issue for women had been ‘deeply demoralising’. Lord Hall, who took up the post in 2013, revealed his decision in a message to BBC staff, telling them: ‘If I followed my heart I would genuinely never want to leave.’

The BBC will advertise the job in the coming weeks so a successor can be found in time for Lord Hall’s departure in the summer.

Former chairman Lord Grade described him as a ‘steadying influence’, but added: ‘It is an undoable job... like being prime minister, it’s impossible to do.’

Tracy Brabin, Labour’s media spokesman, said: ‘It is vital the BBC can choose its next directorgeneral away from the fear of any political interference.”